In the United States, an honor society is an organization that recognizes individuals who rank above a set standard in various domains such as academics, leadership, and other personal achievements, not all of which are based on ranking systems. These societies acknowledge excellence among peers in diverse fields and circumstances. The Order of the Arrow, for example, is the National Honor Society of the Boy Scouts of America. While the term commonly refers to scholastic honor societies, which primarily acknowledge students who excel academically or as leaders among their peers, it also applies to other types of societies.
History The origins of honor societies in the United States can be traced back to the establishment of Phi Beta Kappa in 1776 at the College of William and Mary, which began as a debating society and did not initially impose grade point average (GPA) restrictions for membership.
Many honor societies invite students to become members based on the scholastic rank (the top x% of a class) and/or grade point averages, either overall or for classes taken within the discipline for which the honor society provides recognition. In cases where academic achievement would not be an appropriate criterion for membership, other standards are usually required for membership (such as completion of a particular ceremony or training program). Scholastic honor societies commonly add a criterion relating to the student's character. Most honor societies are invitation-only, and membership in an honor society might be considered exclusive, i.e., a member of such an organization cannot join other honor societies representing the same field.
Many honor societies are referred to by their membership or by non-members as fraternities and sororities. Honor societies exist at the high school, collegiate/university, postgraduate, and professional levels, although university honor societies are by far the most prevalent. In the United States, the oldest academic society, Phi Beta Kappa, was founded as a social and literary fraternity in 1776. Other honor societies were established a century later, including Tau Beta Pi for engineering (1885), Sigma Xi for scientific research (1886), and Phi Kappa Phi for all disciplines (1897). Mortar Board was established in 1918 and was the first national honor society for women who were college seniors.
During the era of honor society expansion in the early 20th century, these organizations were generally supportive of cultural changes that challenged racism, classism, and sexism. Like other aspects of academia, honor society integration and diversity grew with the expansion of an increasingly multicultural and co-educational student body. There were some holdouts, but academia in general, and its honor societies as a reflection, were on the vanguard of change. Several Jewish-only organizations merged into (or absorbed) formerly Christian-exclusive societies. Title IX forced most single-sex societies to admit women, though many had already opted to embrace this change. Racial barriers, where they existed, were challenged and retired, with any holdouts subject to significant criticism. The presence of these holdovers and the demise of those that exhibited overt racism offer an opportunity for a critical reassessment of the criteria and culture within honor societies.
While changes sparked from within these societies were prevalent between the massive influx of students after World War II and before and after the adoption of Title IX, additionally, the demand for recognition of racially diverse scholars spurred the 2005 founding of the Bouchet Graduate Honor Society by Yale University and Howard University. Rather than adopting the traditional tapping to identify top students from a given academic class based on merit, a distinct aspect of this society's nomination process is its focus on self-nominations. A Ph.D. or Ph.D. track is required, among other qualifications. Modern honor societies are increasingly focused on creating supportive environments that promote the academic and personal development of all scholars, especially those from traditionally underrepresented groups. This evolution reflects a broader movement within academic institutions towards a more equitable and comprehensive recognition of student excellence.
Regalia Academic robes and regalia identifying by color the degree, school, and other distinctions, are controlled under rules of the voluntary Intercollegiate Code of Academic Costume. In addition, various colored devices such as stoles, scarves, cords, tassels, and medallions are used to indicate membership in a student's honor society. Of these, cords and mortarboard tassels are most often used to indicate membership. Most institutions allow honor cords, tassels, and/or medallions for honor society members. Stoles are less common, but they are available for a few honor societies. Virtually all, if not all honor societies have chosen such colors and may sell these items of accessory regalia as a service or fundraiser.
Umbrella organizations The Honor Society Caucus and Association of College Honor Societies (ACHS) are two voluntary associations for national collegiate and post-graduate honor societies. ACHS formed in 1925 to establish and maintain desirable standards for honor societies. Later, four founding members of ACHS established the Honor Society Caucus, expressing that the ACHS had diluted and lost sight of the mission of its founding members. While ACHS membership is a certification that the member societies meet these standards, not all legitimate honor societies apply for membership in ACHS.
Collegiate honor societies Notable national and international honor societies based in or at schools include the following.
General and leadership societies General collegiate societies are open to all academic disciplines, although they may have other affinity requirements. Leadership societies recognize leadership, with a multi-disciplinary scholarship component.
SocietySymbolsEmphasisColorsStatus Alpha Alpha AlphaGeneral, first-generation college students Blue and Grey/Silver ActiveAlpha ChiGeneral Emerald green and Sapphire blueActiveAlpha Kappa MuGeneral Royal blue and WhiteActiveAlpha Lambda DeltaGeneral, Freshman Maroon and GoldActiveAlpha Sigma LambdaGeneral, Non-traditional students Burgundy and GoldActiveAlpha Sigma NuGeneral, scholarship and service at Jesuit institutions of higher education Maroon GoldActiveBouchet Graduate Honor SocietyGeneral, Doctoral and Post-DoctoralActiveChi Alpha SigmaGeneral, student athletes Gold and BlackActiveDelta Alpha PiGeneral, students with disabilities Royal blue and GoldActiveDelta Epsilon SigmaGeneral at traditionally Catholic colleges Black and GoldActiveDelta Epsilon TauGeneral, Distance Education Accrediting Commission institutionsActiveEpsilon Tau PiGeneral, Eagle Scouts White, Red, Blue, and BlackActiveGolden Key International Honour SocietyGeneral Navy Blue, Gold, and WhiteActiveKu Klux Klan Interfraternity leadership, Juniors BlackInactiveLambda SigmaScholarship, leadership, and service Blue and GoldActiveMortar BoardGeneral, Juniors and Seniors Gold and SilverActiveNational Residence Hall HonoraryResidence hall leadership and service Blue and WhiteActiveNational Society of Collegiate ScholarsLeadership, scholarship, and service Purple and GoldActiveOmicron Delta KappaLeadership and scholarship, upperclassmen and graduate students Sky blue, White, and BlackActiveOrder of OmegaGeneral, fraternities and sororities Ivory and GoldActivePhi Beta KappaArts and sciences, undergraduate Pink and Sky blueActivePhi Eta SigmaGeneral, freshman Gold and BlackActivePhi Kappa PhiGeneral Blue and GoldActivePhi Sigma PiGeneral Purple and GoldActivePhi Tau PhiGeneralActiveSALUTE Veterans National Honor Society General, veterans and active militaryActiveScabbard and Blade General, ROTC. JROTC. and midshipmen Red, White, and BlueActiveSigma Alpha LambdaLeadership and scholarship Navy, Black, and GoldActiveTau SigmaGeneral, transfer students Burgundy and GoldActive
Humanities These societies are open to Humanities disciplines and may be department-specific.
SocietySymbolsAcademic emphasisColorsStatus Alpha Iota SigmaInterdisciplinary studiesActiveAlpha Mu GammaFirst-year foreign languages GoldActiveAlpha Phi Epsilon Literary and forensicsGarnet and GreenInactiveAlpha Psi OmegaTheatre Light Blue and Antique goldActiveAlpha Upsilon AlphaReading and language arts Gold and SilverActiveBeta Pi Theta FrenchRoyal Purple, Gold, WhiteInactiveChi Tau EpsilonDanceActiveDelta Epsilon ChiDivinityActiveDelta Phi AlphaGerman Black, Red, and GoldActiveDelta Phi DeltaArt Red and Bright blueActiveEta Sigma PhiClassics Purple and GoldActiveKappa Kappa PsiMusic - band Blue WhiteActiveKappa PiArt Purple and GoldActiveKappa Tau AlphaJournalism and mass communication Light blue and GoldActiveLambda Iota TauLiterature Purple and GoldActiveLambda Pi EtaCommunication Crimson and SilverActiveMu Beta PsiMusic Red and WhiteActiveOmega Xi AlphaJournalismActivePhi Sigma IotaForeign languages, literatures, or cultures Purple and WhiteActivePhi Sigma TauPhilosophy White and PurpleActivePi Delta PhiFrench Blue, White, and RedActivePi Kappa LambdaMusic Gold and WhiteActivePi Nu EpsilonMusicActiveSigma Delta PiSpanish and Portuguese Red and GoldActiveSigma Tau DeltaEnglish Cardinal and BlackActiveSociety for Collegiate JournalistsSCJJournalismActiveTau Beta SigmaMusic - band White and BlueActiveTheta Alpha KappaReligious studies, theology, and philosophy Red and GoldActiveTheta Alpha PhiTheatre Purple and WhiteActiveTheta Chi BetaReligious studiesActive
Social sciences These societies are open to social science disciplines and may be department-specific.